Boys hockey: Falmouth clinches postseason berth

ORLEANS — Trailing Falmouth High by a goal, the Nauset Regional High boys hockey team had a 6-on-3 advantage for the final 39 seconds of play at Charles Moore Arena.

CAPE COD TIMES

ORLEANS — Trailing Falmouth High by a goal, the Nauset Regional High boys hockey team had a 6-on-3 advantage for the final 39 seconds of play at Charles Moore Arena.

But the Warriors only got one shot off, and it landed right into the lap of goalie Philip Walker, thus sealing a 2-1 victory for the Clippers.

Falmouth qualified for Division 1 South Sections with the win, improving to 10-4-1 overall and 8-2-0 in the Atlantic Coast League. The Clippers will take on Sandwich on Wednesday for the ACL South crown.

"We didn't want to shoot right away and have them get the rebound, and score," said Nauset coach Brian Niezgoda. "Just like the rest of the season, we couldn't put the nail in the coffin."

The situation was set up when Falmouth's Mike Wilson was called for a hooking. After the call, Tyler Sabens was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Clippers drew first blood at the 2:20 mark when senior Brendan Smith found the net on a feed from Danny Leary and Philip Dinan.

Nauset (4-10-1, 2-6-1 ACL) nearly tied it on a power play at the 7:14 mark, but Walker made a beautiful kick save to keep the Warriors off the board.

Dean Niezgoda knotted the game at 1 at 11:40 on a great back-handed goal, assisted by twin brother Troy Niezgoda.

Controversy struck at the 4:38 mark in the third period when Troy Niezgoda's shot traveled along the goal line and was initially called a goal, giving Nauset a 2-1 lead. But after the officials got together, the goal was erased.

Three minutes later Dinan put Falmouth up for good on assists from Shaun Price and Tyler Howe.

"We did not play a very good game" said Falmouth coach Buddy Ferreira. "We scored too early and thought it would be a cakewalk."

Zack Cowing had an outstanding game in net for the Warriors, making 25 saves.

"Zack has come on strong the last four games," said Niezgoda. "He's becoming one of the top goalies in the league."

— PHIL GARCEAU

HYANNIS — Despite missing three starters, the Red Raiders defense stifled the Indians on the way to an important Old Colony League victory at Kennedy Memorial Rink.

Kyle Phelan scored two goals and Bryce Serriello and Zach Wells rounded out the scoring for Barnstable, which improves to 8-5-2 (4-0 OCL).

"We'll take every league win we can get" said Barnstable coach Scott Nickerson. "The kids played good defense and showed good puck handling. They played hard."

Barnstable limited Dartmouth to just 13 shots on Raiders goalie Jake Adams, who made 12 saves.

"We brought some kids up from JV" to help fill in for injuries, Nickerson said. "It was a good game for them to get in."

Phelan got the scoring going right away, stealing the puck and beating Dartmouth goalie Dylan Seridonio just more than a minute in.

Four minutes later, Wells scored on a nifty pass from Serriello.

Phelan notched his second goal midway through the second period on a feed from Cam Larson, and Serriello sealed it in the third, taking a pass from Phelan and rifling a slap shot past Seridonio.

— WALLY BRENNAN

BOURNE — Todd Billingham, Tad Gold and Darren Gazaille scored and Martha's Vineyard improved to 9-1-3 with a shutout of the Canalmen.

Alex Minnehan recorded his third shutout of the season in net.

Gazaille and Gold recorded two assists apiece. Gazaille had the highlight assist of the night on a behind the back pass to setup Gold's score. Joel Rebello had a single helper, on Gazaille's third-period goal.

BOURNE — The Blue Knights controlled this ACL contest with single goals in the first two periods and a 31-14 edge in shots.

Casey Helms tipped home a Sean Gallagher shot from the point for the first-period score for Sandwich, which improves to 8-2-3, 6-1-2 ACL.

The second goal came during a 4-on-4 when Darryl Lawrie connected on a snap shot from the hash marks 23 seconds into the second period.

The Dolphins fall to 5-8-2, 3-6-0 ACL.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.